Both of The Explorers are huge fans of all things science. And while we haven’t yet had a chance to visit the amazing Exploratorium in San Francisco, it’s certainly on our to-do list.
Lucky for us, more than 400 of the Exploratorium’s inventors and educators have come together to create Exploralab: 150 Ways to Investigate the Amazing Science All Around You. The 128-page book features over 100 kid-tested projects inspired by the Exploratorium’s interactive exhibits. The book is arranged into labs, each of which offers experiments to run, games to play and puzzles to solve – all linked to a specific part of a child’s normal daily life.
Exploralab is designed for kids 8 and up, so The Big Explorer and I poured through it together. He especially enjoyed a very not-outdoorsy activity called the “Toy Take Apart,” which gave him permission to finally discover what was inside a favorite old toy (answer: lots of interesting stuff!).
But not to worry! When it comes to getting outside and into nature, there are plenty of fun ideas, including:
- Listening to bird sounds & trying to guess what each might be saying;
- Tracking time by watching shadows shift;
- Tearing up a flower to learn what it’s made of;
- Testing dirt;
- Making a beginning bug book;
- Examining sand grains at the beach and more.
While the Big Explorer loved the bright color photography and the surprise items packed inside the book (including a magnifier, polarizing filters and glow-in-the-dark ink), he was frustrated by its organization. (Each of the Labs is listed in the table of contents, but isn’t linked to a specific page number.)
I appreciate that the book makes science fun and down-to-earth. The language is simple and is presented in a kid-friendly voice. But most of all, I like that it encourages kids to explore, ask questions and stay curious.
Note: I received a free copy of Exploralab in exchange for providing my honest review with you. Read my full disclosure policy for more information.
